Difference Between Kerning and Tracking

Kerning and tracking are terms that are used in reference to spacing between characters. Every person will have confusion regarding kerning and tracking, and they think that there is hardly any difference between the two. Most people are confused because they think that these two terms can be interchanged. The fact is that there are many differences between kerning and tracking, and they are used differently.

What is kerning and what does it specify? Kerning is mainly used for increasing or decreasing the spacing between pairs of letters. It is also said that kerning is a space adjustment between two characters to balance for the relative shapes. For example, a lower case letter after a ‘T’ will seem to appear far away if proper kerning is not done. If proper kerning is not done, the white space will be more prominent. Once kerning is done to bind the characters close, then all of the characters will have aesthetics.

Where is kerning mainly applied? It is mainly applied in headlines and large-type letters for a visual impact, for more visibility, or for appealing visually.

Now let us see what tracking is. It is the measure of the space between letters. Once tracking is done, it increases or decreases the space between the characters, and it is applied to all the characters in the text. If proper tracking is not done, there is a possibility that the readability is affected. You have the option to tighten the space to get more characters in a line. You can also widen the space if the words are cramped or the text is heavy to make it easier to read.

Summary:

1. Kerning is mainly used for increasing or decreasing the spacing between pairs of letters. It is also said that kerning is a space adjustment between two characters to balance their relative shapes.
2. If proper kerning is not done, the white space will be more prominent. Once kerning is done to bind the characters close, then all of the characters will have aesthetics.
3. Tracking is the measure of the space between letters. Once tracking is done, it increases or decreases the space between the characters, and it is applied to all the characters in the text.
4. Kerning is mainly applied in headlines and large-type letters for a visual impact, for more visibility, or for appealing visually.

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Written by : Prabhat S.
and updated on March 19, 2011

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